Cyrenus wheeler



Letters Patent No. A79,881, dated July 14, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTER-RAKES.

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'ro ALnwnoM ITMAY ooNoEnN':Y t t .De it known that I, CYRENUS WIIEELER,J1., of Auburn, Cayuga county, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvester-Rakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a.` full, clear, and `exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, makinga part of this specification, in whichy i Figure 1 is a perspective view of a harvestingmaehine, embracing my improvements.

' Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing the arrangement of the adjustable rake, chain-pulleys, drivers scat, the.'

Figurel 3 is a perspective view ofl the cam detached, and

Figure 4 is a similar view ofthe adjustable pulley-shaft.

Similar letters of reference denoteI corresponding parts in all the figures. i

The invention relates to certain improvements in the means for regulating the movements of the revolving rake and reel-arms,`and in the arrangement of mechanism for driving .the same, and will be understood from the followingdescription. Y l

Forthe purposeof illustrating my improvements, and the manner of applyingithemin practice, I have shown in the drawings a'ha1'vesting-machinc of the class known as a combined machine; that is to say, one having such a construction as to adn-ptit to be used either for reaping or mowing by simply changing some of its parts, or by the removal or addition of such parts in a manner well known to those familiar with .their use. In the present instance the'maohine is composed of three frames, viz, a ,main frame, A, to which the drive-wheel axle and drive-wheel B are attached; a. tongue or draught-frame, C, and a crank or cutter-frame, D. The main or drive-wheel frame Ais provided, on the side opposite thcidrive-wheel axle, with a cylindrical arm or projection, ,in which the tube-box for tbepinion and bevel-wheel shaft is mounted, and to which the tongue and cranklframes are connected by sleeves embracing or surrounding said cylindrical arm, and forming a hinge-corincction ofrsaid tongue and crank-frames with thcimain frame, in such manner that while the drive-wheel axle forms the fulcruin upon which the adjustment of the several frames is effected, the bevel-wheel shaft forms the centre around which the said frames moveiwhcn adjusted for varying their angle of relation to each other. The main frame A is provided with an arm, A', extending to the rear of the axle, and above the drive-wheel, andatfording a support for the ratchet-wheel, pulley, and lever, through which, by means of acord or chain, the heightof the crank-frame is adjusted; Said arm A also serves as a point of attachment for the roar brace e to the seat-bar or support E, the forward one' of which is hinged to a bar or plate, E', bolted to the-tongue-framel The seatbar or support is further braced or sustained by an adjustable leg or arm, connected to a washer or plate on the axle, outside ofthe drive-wheel, and is-providcd'with a seat, i", and foot-board F for the driver.

The rear dropping ond ofthe crankframe l) terminates in a shoe, Dl, to which the finger-bar and platform are connected in any suitable or desired manner. A brace, d, attached to the shoe, extends forward, and is pivoted to an arm of the tongue-frame at a point in linewith the bevel-wheel shaft. is a draught-rod,counected nt its rear end to an upright, D2, on the sleeve of the crank-frame which connects said frame with the main frame. The draught-rod G is connected at its forward end to a sliding box or plate Yon the tongue or tongue-frame, to which the draught of the team is applied in such manner as to relieve the drag of the crankframe and `shoe upon theground. The upright, Dl, is perforated at various points in it?! length, to admit of adjusting' the draughtfrod for varying the leverage of said upright, and consequently the power or effect of the draught upon the cranlcframc, asdesired. 1I is` the finger-bar, and I the platform, supported at their inner end by the shoe D, and at their outer end by a carrying-wheel, J.V The outer edge of the platform has a rim or guard applied to it, which conforms to the path of the outer ends of the-reel-bcaters and rake-heads in sweeping over the platform, and which serves to properly direct the grain in its removal from the platform, .as herein- .after described.

' K is a rakcstandard, att-ached to the crank-frame, and provided at its upper end with a fixed shaft orstud, on which the revolving head to which the rake and rcel-arms are hinged, is mounted and turns, said head, in

this instance, consisting of ahori'zontal chain-sheavc or sprocket-wheel, L, `the upper face of which is recessed er flanged, to 'receive the rake and reel-arms Mpivetcd thereto, as shown in fig- 1.

The arms M are chamber-ed on 'their under faces, to receive stands armed with small frietiomrollcrs m. (see iig. 5,) which traverse the face of the guiding-cam N as the ra\ke and reel-arms revolve. The form of the guiding-cam or track N, which serves to give the necessary rising and falling movements to the rake-arms and reelbeaters in their revolution, is represented in iig. 3, said cam or track being formed or cast in one piece, with a base-plate or yoke, N', and firmly bolted to the topof the rake-standard K, in such manner as to embrace or surround the chain-shenve L. The rake and reel-armsiM are connected together in pairs by means of links O and plates o, attached te said arms, and made adjustable thereon by means of slots and set-screws, in such manner that, by adjusting the plates o in or out upon the arms, the angle of relation of said arms to each other, and consequently the path described by them in their revolution, may he varied as desired.

The rake-heads and rcel-beaters are attached to the outer ends of the arms M iuany usual manner, and are made of sufticient length to reach the point z' of the divider I1 in reeling in the grain to the cutters. Aridgeboard o'r inclined track, 12, serves to raise the outer end of the rake-heads, and to prevent the raketeeth from being caught i`n the cutters when loaded down by fallen or tangled grain. The rake and reel-arms are further pro'ided with lugs or ears near their pivoted ends, armed with set-screws, which rest upon the face ofthe sheave or rotating head L, and which serve by their adjustment to regulate the angle of relation ofthe rake-heads and beaters to the platform while passing over the same.- L' is a sheave or sprocket-wheel, connected with the'hub 'of the drive-wheel, on the outer side of said wheel, from which motion is communicated to the rotating head or sheave L, on'the inner side of the drive-wheel, by means of'an endless chain passing ai^`ound horizontal pulleys It R, mounted on an adjustable vertical shaft, Q, in front ofthe drive-wheel, as represented in fig. 1. A small pulley or sheave, S, onV an arm, S', bolted to the rake-stand, serves to properly direct the chain in passing over the rotating head or sheave L. The vertical pulley-shaft'Q is attached to a slotted plate Q', secured to the bar E by a grooved or rpbated guide-bloeide, so that itvmay be adjusted back andforth by a set-screw, q", or other equivalent device for regulating the tension of the rake-driving cord or chain..

A- vertical pulley, T, mounted in arms of plate Q', serves to guide the chain in passing to and from the v pulley R.

The frame A has attacliedto it an adjustable stop, a, which' serves to regulate thciupward movement of the crank-frame, the height of which frame is adjusted by means of the lever and pulley on the main frame, as described. The driving-pulley or sprocket-wheel L may be connected with 4theliub Fof the drive-wheel by a backing-ratchet or clutch, if desired, in such manner as to remain stationary when the machine is backed.

The operation of the several parts'will be readily understood from the foregoing description of their construction and arrangement. l

Having now described my improvements, what I claim, and wish to'secure .by Letters Patent, is-A 1. The construction and arrangement of the chain-slieave or pulley, whereby it is adapted to'serve as the v rotating head to which the rake and reel-arms are pivoted.

2. ,'The arrangement of theendless chain and the driving and guide-pulleys, forA driving the rake, arranged "on one side of the drive-\vheel, from a. pulley or sheavc on the opposite side of said wheel, substantially as described.

3. The rake-cam or track, made in one piece with the baseplate or yoke, and attached to the rake-stand, substantially as described. l l

4. Mounting the friction-rollers that traverse .the guiding-cam in detachable boxes or stands, loeat cd in recesses or chambers formed in the rake and reel-arms. i

5. Linking the rake and reel-arms together in pairs, in such manner that the angle of relation of said armsV may bc varied by adjustingl the point of' connection ofthe links therewithat either end.

y Y 6. The rakeand reel-arms provided with lugs or cars, having set-screws for adjusting the height of said arms inpassing over the-platform.

7. 'lhe guiding-sheave or pulleys in front of the drivewheel, around which the rake-driving chain passes,

' made adjustablc;for the purpose set forth.

8. The main frame,.or arm A thereof, extended in rear of the drive-wheel, andaiording a point of support for tl1e seat-bar, substantially as described'.

C. WHEELER, Jn.

Witnesses:

Hennen T. COOK, Cuantas B. WHEELER. 

